Four Years in France: or, Narrative of an English Family's Residence there during that Period; Preceded by some Account of the Conversion of the Author to the Catholic FaithBeste, Henry Digby
Religion
Four Years in France: or, Narrative of an English Family's Residence there during that Period; Preceded by some Account of the Conversion of the Author to the Catholic Faith
Beste, Henry Digby
France -- Description and travel
The chapel is such an one as may be expected in such a palace. The seat
of the royal family is in what is called the tribune, which is entered
from the state apartments, and is at the height of half the chapel from
the pavement, looking down on the altar at the opposite end. In all the
royal chapels, the place of the king is thus situated, thus elevated
above the altar. Of this I cannot approve: let me quote a story which
will explain my meaning. King George III. sent, as a present to the
Emperor of China, a handsome town-built chariot. On board the vessel
which conveyed it, (it was packed up in separate pieces) a mandarin
attended, to see it mounted and put together, that he might inform
himself of the uses of the several parts.--He readily understood all the
rest; but the two seats, the one within, and the coachman's seat,
covered, of course, with a superb hammer-cloth, perplexed him. "For whom
is that seat?" said he, pointing to the inside of the carriage. He was
told that it was for the Emperor. "And that?" pointing to the
coach-box. "For the man who guides the horses." "Do you think," said he,
with a sudden burst of indignation, "that our glorious sovereign, the
son of the sun, &c. &c. will allow any one to be placed higher than
himself?"
From the southern end of the terrace is seen the orangery below,
sheltered from the north by the terrace, and the southern end of the
central part of the palace; and from the east by that wing in which are
the _petits appartements_. Oranges, in this climate, endure the open air
during five months in the year: those of the Tuilleries had already
taken their station in the garden when I arrived at Paris, in the end of
April. It is said that Louis XIV. received a Turkish ambassador at a
first audience in this orangery. This envoy having learned at Paris that
Versailles was a most magnificent palace, and at the Sublime Porte that
flattery was a most important part of his trade, began to offer to the
king his prepared compliments. The king quietly allowed him to proceed
and finish; and then taking him on the terrace, and into the state
rooms, enjoyed his surprise, mingled, as may be supposed, with some
confusion, at having repeated his lesson rather too soon.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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